Bottle from Booths, Media City. Copper-amber with a thin head. Traditional ale in style with only a light bitterness. Not overly flavoursome, but with a slightly steamed texture it’s a very light in the palate. Has a sweetness in its nose.

500ml bottle from Tesco - Ruby red body, thick white head. Nose is caramel, toffee, nuts. Taste is similar, but is let down with a tinniness in the background. Not that Christmassy, but then again, I had it in April.

Bottle. The name is one of those that makes me hate the irredeemable lack of wit in parts the British beer industry. Nose is malt, berry, cardboard, dough, something odd which I guess is the spice but I can’t place it. Not appealing. Taste is toffee, berry, fruit, malts, a little peppery floral note,. There might be the faintest hint of something spicy in the finish but I can’t place it. It’s a bog standard bland British bitter from a supermarket. It was bought because it was a pound. It was overpriced. If idiots like me keep buying this rubbish I can’t complain when it’s still made.

Bottle from B&M, Ashton Gate, Bristol. Medium brown in colour with a decent, off-white, head. Sweet, caramel, notes abound, with earthy malts, a hint of roastiness and moderately bitter finish. Ok.

500ml bottle from B&M. Amber colour with foamy white head. Aroma is spicy, malt, and caramel. The taste is sweetish.

50cl bottle from Crafty Pint. Appearance - deep amber with a nice head. Nose - slightly grainy which dominates the toffee note a little. Light spice. Taste - more of the same really. Palate - close to medium bodied with a creamy yet crunchy texture and a fairly good finish. Overall - would like more biscuity notes.

50cl bottle from Tesco’s, Camberley. A golden amber pour with s thin white head; fruity aroma - perhaps spiced plums; full fruity taste; and a dry finish with some lingering blackcurrant. Fresh and fruity.

Beer number four of my Pre-Christmas Christmas beer tasting evening on 15th Nov 2014. 500ml bottle: BBD 31st Oct 2015, poured into an Abbot Ale badged glass tankard and shared with no one. Good looking beer, terracotta red hue to the body, clear and clean, on top a large white, bubbly head. Sweet malty molasses take first place in the aroma and flavour stakes, with both caramel and cinder toffee coming through from the off. Fruity notes add to the taste and nose with apples and dark berries appearing as the beer warmed a little in the tankard. The body seemed a bit lightweight and thin for the flavours and let the overall palate down a little: otherwise great for the price (from B&M bargains).

Bottle from B&M, Stretford Mall [031114]
Caramel brown, clear, thin white head
Aroma of caramel, berry fruits, dab of raisin, sweet fruity caramel
Taste of caramel, soft bitter earthy English hop, fruity brown malts, touch of roasted malts
Palate - Soft carb, medium light body, soft sweet malts, bit acidic, soft bitter. Finish of soft fruit malts
Overall - Not bad, better than expected tbh